childbirth

American  

[chahyld-burth] / ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜrθ /

noun

1. an act or instance of bringing forth a child; parturition.

   a difficult childbirth.

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childbirth British  

/ ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜːθ /

noun

1. the act of giving birth to a child

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Etymology

Origin of childbirth

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; child, birth

Example Sentences

China has moved well beyond rhetoric: childbirth is now effectively free under the insurance system, and reimbursement for assisted reproductive services has been expanding rapidly.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Hague has been open with her fans about her struggles with pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood, describing having her first child as challenging at times.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Future studies will focus on the sensory nerve networks involved in childbirth, since not all nerves around the uterus contain PIEZO2.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

In “Hamnet,” Buckley’s howls during childbirth and anguish over a child’s death mark the emotional extremes in a period drama about grief, art and Shakespeare.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

She had never forgotten that expression: childbirth as an act of blasé bourgeoisie—how funny, how untrue it was.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie